19 in Minnesota Freed In Power Line Dispute

BUFFALO, Minn., Nov. 14 (AP) - Nineteen persons were found not guilty of charges of trespassing
at a utility property yesterday
in a case
that became a cause celebre in the human rights dispute between the Soviet Union and the United
States. The jury of three men and three women returned the verdicts after six hours of deliberation.

Kenneth Tilsen, a defense attorney, said, "The jury obviously decided that power line property is
not private property and that people have a right to express themselves on important social issues."

The 19 opponents of the 427-mile power line were arrested and charged with trespassing on Oct. 29
at a substation in Delano. One of those charged was Dean Reed, a folk singer whose songs have
become popular in the Soviet Union. The Soviet press agency Tass covered the trial, and said
Mr. Reed's only offense was his "active struggle" for political prisoners in the United States.

Mr. Reed and 11 of the demonstraters refused to post $300 bail after they were arrested and staged
a hunger strike. They were released last week when their trial began.

The rally that led to the arrests was another protest in a three-year-long history of protests
and vandalism anlong the power line, which was finished in September and will begin carrying
electricity next spring. The line is being built by two power cooperatives for rural electric
cooperatives. Farmers say their property rights are being violated.

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